Sparking igniter for explosive-engines.



No. 699,433. Pathfed May 6,1902.

R. L. vouma.

S PARKING IGNITER FOB EXPLUS'IVE ENGINES.

(Application filed July 8, 1901.)

(No Model.)

i": ITED ATENT OFFro.

RICHARD L. YOUNG, OF MILWVAUKEE, \VISOONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THOMAS J. PRICE, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

SPARKING IGNITER FOR EXPLOSlVE-ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 699,433, dated May 6, 1902.

Application filed July 8,1901. Serial No. 67,446. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern: strip 14 of hard rubber or other suitable in- Beitknown thatI, RICHARD L. YOUNG, resulating material being placed between the siding at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwautwo screws to prevent the electrical currentkee and State of Wisconsin, have invented a from passing from the ring to the cam- 5 new and usefullmprovementin Sparking lgshaft. It will be evident that by removing :uiters for EXplosive-Engines,of which the folthe screw 13 access can be readily obtained lowing isadescription, reference being had to to the set-screw 12 for the purpose of adj ustthe accompanyingdrawings,which are a part ing or removing said screw.

of this specification. The outer metallic ring 10 is secured to the IO My invention has relation toimprovements sleeve9 by any desirable means, but preferin sparking igniters for explosive-engines. ably by a series of set-screws 15, which ex- The object of the invention is to provide a tend through said ring and enter the sleeve 9, simpleand efficient mechanism of the contheir inner ends of course terminating short struction hereinafter set forth for producing of the cam-shaft, so as to insure against the I 5 the spark, and thereby igniting the explosive electrical current passing to said shaft.

charge. The bracket 6 is provided transversely With the above primary and other incidenthereof with a threaded opening 16, into which tal objects in view the invention consists of is screwed an exteriorly-threaded bushing 17, the devices and parts or their equivalents, as composed of hard rubber, or other suitable 2o hereinafter more fully set forth. insulatingmaterial. Fitting in the bushing In the accompanying drawings, Figurelis is a metallic rod 18, preferably of copper. an elevation of my invention, certain parts This rod preferably has a threaded connecbeing broken away and in section and showtion with the interior of the bushing, so as ing only a fragment of the cylinder of the ento be adjustable therein, and is turned suffi- 25 gine; and Fig. 2 is a view at right angles to ciently far to cause one of its endsto always Fig. 1. contact with the metallic ring 10. To the Referring to the drawings, the numeral 3 opposite end of the rod 18 is connected an indicates the cylinder of an ordinary form of electrical conductor a, which connects with gasolene or gas engine, 4 the head of the cylany suitable source of electrical energy.

o inder, and 5 the flange of said cylinder, to Through the head of the cylinder is prowhich the head is bolted. Secured to the cylvided an opening 19, and in this opening is inder,preferably by a threaded connectiomso adj ustably fitted, by means of screw-threads, as to be capable of adjustment, is a bracket a bushing 20, of hard rubber or other suit- 6, the outer end of said bracket provided with able insulating material. Fitting in this 35 an opening which forms a bearing for a shaft bushing is a metallic rod, preferably of cop- 7, said shaft having a cam 8 mounted thereon. per and forming one electrode 1 21 of the This shaft may be driven from the engine by sparking mechanism. One end of this elecany suitable means, preferably by a gearing trode is, preferably pointed andextends into (not shown) between it and the crank-shaft the cylinder for a I desireddistance; The

40 of the engine. Surrounding the cam-shaft other electrode 22 consisting of a metallic is a sleeve 9, preferably of hard rubber or rod, preferablyof copper, is fitted'in a bushsome other suitable non-conductor of eleoing 23, of hard rubber or other suitable insutricity. Surrounding in turn the sleeve 9 is lating material. This bushingis also adjusta metallic ring 10, preferably of copper. Proably fitted in a threaded. opening 24 in the 45 jecting peripherally from the ring 10 and cylinder-head, said opening being preferably connected adjustably thereto, preferably by at right angles to the openingll). The inner ascrew-thread connection,isacontact-stud11. end of the electrode. 22 is also preferably The sleeve 9 is secured to the cam-shaft by pointed. To the outer end of the electrode any desirable means, but preferably by a set- 21 is connected the end of an electrical contoo 50 screw 12, said screw being held firmly in place ductor h, which also extends to the source of by means of another screw 13, an insulating electrical energy.

The outer end of the electrode 22 is provided with a contact-plate 25, said plate being preferably of steel and also having its outer edge advisably beveled. The electrode is so positioned that the plate 25, carried thereby, will be contacted with by the stud 1] once in every revolution of the cam-shaft.

It will be noticed that the rod 18 is always in contact with the ring 10, and hence said rod acts in a somewhat similar manner to the brush of a dynamo-commutator.

In the operation of the invention the electrical spark in the cylinder will take place when the stud 11 makes contact with the plate 25, which occurs once in each revolution of the cam-shaft. The ring 10 is set in proper position, so that the spark will take place when the inlet gas-valve (not shown) has just closed. When the stud 11 passes the plate 25, contact is of course broken and will not take place again until shaft '7 completes another revolution, which will occur upon every second stroke of the engine, the gears being two to one.

From the above description it will be seen that I provide a most simple form of igniting mechanism. Provision is also made for thoroughly insulating the electrically-energized parts, and ample means are also provided for obtaining ready adjustment of all parts which from time to time may require adjustment.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is 1. In a sparking igniter for explosive-engines, the combination of a cylinder, electrodes extending into said cylinder and insulated therefrom, an electrical conductor extending from one of said electrodes and leading to the source of electrical supply, a rotatable cam-shaft, an insulating-sleeve mounted thereon, a metallic ring secured to and surrounding the sleeve, and provided with a contact-stud projecting therefrom and adapted to make contact with the outer end of one of the electrodes on each revolution of the cam-shaft, a metallic rod having one end in contact with the metallic ring, and an electrical conductor connecting said rod with the source of electrical supply.

2. In a sparking igniter for explosive-em gines, the combination of a cylinder, electrodes extending into said cylinder and insulated therefrom, an electrical conductor extending from one of said electrodes and lead ing to the source of electrical supply, a contact-plate secured to the outer end of the other electrode, a rotatable cam-shaft, an insulating-sleeve mounted thereon, a metallic ring secured to and surrounding the sleeve, and provided with a contact-stud adapted to make contact with the contact-plate of the electrode on each revolution of the cam-shaft, a metallic rod having one end in contact with the metallic ring, and an electrical conductor connecting said rod with the source of electrical supply.

In a sparking ignitcr for explosive-engines, the combination of a cylinder, electrodes extending into said cylinder and insulated therefrom, an electrical conductor extending from one of said electrodes and leading to the source of electrical supply, a rotatable cam-shaft, an ii'isulating-sleeve mounted thereon, a set-screw passing through said sleeve and turned against the cam-shaft, a metallic ring secured to and surrounding the sleeve, and provided with a contact-stud pro jecting therefrom and adapted to make contact with the outer end of one of the electrodes on each revolution of the cam-shaft, a screw inserted in the ring, and in line with the set-screw, an insulating-strip between the two screws, a metallic rod having one end in contact with the metallic ring, and an electrical conductor connecting said rod with the source of electrical supply.

at. In a sparking igniter for explosive-engines, the combination of a cylinder, electrodes extending into said cylinder and insulated therefrom, an electrical conductor extending from one of said electrodes and leading to the source of electrical supply, a bracket extending from the cylinder, a rotatable camshaft having its bearing in an opening in the bracket, an insulating-sleeve mounted on the cam-shaft, a metallic ring secured to and surrounding the sleeve, and provided with a contact-stud projecting therefrom and adapted to make contact with the outer end of one of the electrodes on each revolution of the camshaft, a metallic rod having one end in contact with the metallic ring, and an electrical conduetorconnecting said rod with the source of electrical supply.

5. In a sparking igniter for explosive-em gines, the combination of a cylinder, electrodes extending into said cylinder and insulated therefrom, an electrical conductor ex tending from one of said electrodes and leading to the source of electricalsupply, abracket extending from and adjustably secured to the cylinder, a rotatable cam-shaft having its bearing in an opening in the bracket, an insulating-sleeve mounted on the cam-shaft, a metallic ring secured to and surrounding the sleeve, and provided with a contact-stud projecting therefrom and adapted to make contact with the outer end of one of the electrodes on each revolution of the cam-shaft, a metallic rod having one end in contact with the metallic ring, and an electrical conductor connecting said rod with the source of electrical supply.

6. In a sparking igniter for explosive-engines, the combination of a cylinder, electrodes extending into said cylinder and insulated therefrom, an electrical conductor extending from one of said electrodes and leading to the source of electrical supply, a bracket extending from the cylinder, a rotatable camshaft having its bearing in an opening in the bracket, an insulating-sleeve mounted on the cam-shaft, a metallic ring secured to and surrounding the sleeve, and provided with a con- IIO tact-stud projecting therefrom and adapted to make contact with the outer end of one of the electrodes on each revolution of the camshaft, a metallic rod disposed in a transverse opening in the bracket and having one end in contact with the metallic ring, and an electrical conductor connecting said rod With the source of electrical supply.

7. In a sparking igniter for explosive-engines, the combination of a cylinder, electrodes extending into said cylinder and insulated therefrom, an electrical conductor extending from one of said electrodes and lead ing to the source of electrical supply, a rotatable cam-shaft, an insulating-sleeve mounted In testimony whereof I afifix my signature 2;

in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD L. YOUNG. Witnesses:

L. B. MALLORY, R. T. HAZEL. 

